Hitman: Chauvinist? Not So Much.

Hitman: Chauvinist? Not So Much.

Criticism of trailers showcasing classic themes don’t make much fodder... or sense.

By Ben Leinen

I like Kenza MacDonald’s Op-Ed . The article points to previous ad campaigns that demonstrate her overall point. There is indeed a sexualized tone of the ads, which is a common marketing ploy not exclusive to the video game world. But is it a marketing ploy or high art?

Overall, it’s clear she investigated the series Hitman. But anyone familiar with the series as a whole sees themes re-emerge from previous titles in the new preview. This is the biggest drawback to her article, because fanboys will not see her as an authority.

This leads to the critique that the ad is unusual in the series and has nothing to do with the gameplay i.e. “...It’s not remotely relevant to the game.”

In fact, many BDSM/Fetish themes run throughout the previous titles, such as Hitman: Contracts. Both males and females in that game possessed similar “sexualized” roles. This isn’t the first time Agent 47 has been able to kill a few women in bondage... much like the countless men he’s dispatched in a similar fashion. All of this is old news, as far as followers are concerned, and it translates to mostly cynicism.

I disagree with this article. It was only a few years ago when a movie called The Town was released. In the film, a band of heistmen have nun outfits to do a robbery. Who is to say that women can not be in similar form? Aren’t some of those assumptions equally as demeaning? Why can’t women be assassins like the title character? What’s so offensive about sexy?

Within the context of the game, which many of us consider high art and not “violence porn,” 47 has no prejudice about killing men or women. You wouldn’t go back and tone down or censor ancient statues, such as these, would you?

Many video games are toning down the sexualization of females. Take the re-envisioning of Lara Croft just last year, a much more conservative version of the original character. It is true that most are still sinking their teeth into it. The Op-Ed is right to criticize games that use sexualized gimmicks, where sexualization is the whole game. I felt her points would have been better directed at a game like Lollipop Chainsaw. That whole game is sexualized, versus a single ad for Hitman (which she admits isn’t a big part of the new game.)